Staff Spotlight

TROY ANDERSON
Troy is from Crowheart and is the new Special Education Teacher at Wind River High School.
He attended Dakota Wesleyan University and Western Governors University where he earned a Social Studies Teaching Degree as well as a Masters Special Education Generalist. He has been an education for seven years.
He and his family enjoy sushi as well as outdoor activities and sports. A few of his favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: Jocko Willink
Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Alabama Football
Favorite Movie: Gladiator
Favorite TV Show: Last Chance U
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Color: Black
Favorite Vacation Spot: Beach - Preferably Warm
Favorite Band/Song: Anything by Zach Bryan (right now)
RUTH BRAGG
Ruth is from Fort Washakie and is a paraprofessional at Wind River Elementary School.
She received her secondary social studies degree from the University of Wyoming and has been an educator for 24 years.
She and her husband, Val, have four grown children and 11 grandchildren. She enjoys cleaning her house, sewing and going on motorcycle rides. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: Scriptures
Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Soccer - all teams
Favorite Movie: Hocus Pocus
Favorite TV Show: Suits
Favorite Food: Tacos
Favorite Color: Emerald Green
Favorite Vacation Spot: Jackson Hole
Favorite Band/Song: AC/DC - It's a Long Way to the Top

JESSIE DAVID
Jessie grew up in Crowheart and is one of the new secretaries at Wind River Middle/High School this year. She graduated from Wind River in 2019. Welcome back Jessie!
She and her husband Lincoln moved back to Pavillion this summer. They live on the David family farm and help raise cattle and hay. She and her family also put on rodeos in Dubois during the summer. She enjoys fishing and spending time with her family and horses. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Basketball
Favorite Movie: Lonesome Dove
Favorite TV Show: S.W.A.T.
Favorite Food: Spaghetti
Favorite Color: Blue

SYDNIE ELLER
Sydnie grew up in Glendo and is the new fourth grade teacher at Wind River Elementary.
She graduated from the University of Wyoming at Casper with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education with a minor in literacy. She has been a teacher for 4 years.
She comes from a teaching background, as her mother has been a teacher for over 30 years. She is engaged and will be married before next summer.
She enjoys being active, whether at the gym or out exploring and hunting with her fiance. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: Harry Potter Series but also loves Kristin Hannah
Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Wyoming Cowboys, Huskers, and the Buffalo Bills (go Josh Allen)
Favorite Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy
Favorite TV Show: The Office
Favorite Food: Macaroni and Cheese
Favorite Color: It changes every day but currently pink
Favorite Vacation Spot: The mountains
Favorite Band/Song: Casey Donahew and Taylor Swift

DEE HARRISON
Dee is from Rigby and is the new Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Wind River Middle/High School.
He has been an educator for 20 years. He attended college at the University of Wyoming, Eastern Oregon University, United States Sports Academy, Idaho State University, and Ricks College and earned a Masters in Teacher Education, Masters in Sports Administration, Bachelors in Physical Education/Health and an Associates Degree in General Studies.
Dee has four biological children and two foster children ranging in ages from 2 to 25 years old and one granddaughter.
He enjoys riding four-wheelers and building projects. He just loves to be active doing anything athletic. A few of his favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: Steve Covey
Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Track and Field
Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite TV Show: Murders in the Building
Favorite Food: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
Favorite Color: Depends on the Day
Favorite Vacation Spot: Costa Rica
Favorite Band/Song: Aerosmith

MELISSA HORN
Melissa is from Yampa, Colorado and joined Wid River Elementary's staff as a paraprofessional this year.
She and her family moved to the area in 2021. They bought a farm and began to build our new lives right here in Fremont County! She and her husband and have four kids together, One in high school, two in elementary and one who now lives in heaven. She is excited to be working at Wind River Elementary and is looking forward to many years of helping with the education of our community's children! She enjoys helping on the farm, fishing with her kids, and traveling to visit family. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Wrestling - Her favorite team is the Cougars!
Favorite Color: Teal - but the Cougar colors are rapidly growing on her
Favorite Vacation Spot: She enjoys getting away to the mountains where it is quiet and peaceful
Favorite Band/Song: All kinds of music

KARISSA MILLWARD
Karissa is from Rowland Heights, California and is returning to Wind River High School this year as one of the high school English/Language Arts teachers. Welcome back, Karissa!
She received her bachelors degree in Engish education from Cal Poly Pomona and earned her masters in teaching from Western Governors University. This is her fifth year in education.
In her spare time she enjoys running through the streets of Pavillion with her dogs, reading a good book on the porch, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: There is too many to list. She recently has been fascinated with anything Steven King.
Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: The Anaheim Ducks (Hockey)
Favorite Movie: Sweet Home Alabama
Favorite TV Show: Hart of Dixie
Favorite Food: Mexican
Favorite Color: Teal
Favorite Vacation Spot: Southern California
Favorite Band/Song: The Counting Crows

LACY NICHOLS
Lacy is from Lander and is one of the new faces in the Middle School/High School office this year.
Though she originally went to school for rodeo, she transferred to the University of Phoenix and received an associates in business management. This is her second year at Wind River, as she was a paraprofessional during the 2022-2023 school year.
She and her husband live in Pavillion from Morristown, Arizona and have three dogs and lots of other animals. She enjoys barrel racing, breakaway roping, and riding futurity colts. She also love to read and spend time with my family. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Rodeo
Favorite Movie: Anything Adam Sandler
Favorite TV Show: Expedition Unknown
Favorite Food: Tacos
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Vacation Spot: Mexico
Favorite Band/Song: Moneytalks by AD/DC

JESSIE RIDER
Jessie is from Riverton and joined Wind River Elementary as a second grade teacher this year.
She earned her Bachelors in Elementary education from the University of Wyoming and has been an educator for three years.
She and her husband have two children, a boy and a girl. She enjoys reading and taking care of her chickens. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: Harry Potter series
Favorite Movie: The Goonies
Favorite TV Show: The original MacGyver
Favorite Food: Spaghetti
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Vacation Spot: Camping at Sinks Canyon
Favorite Band/Song: All kinds of music
JUDY SCHIFFERNS
Judy is from Riverton and has returned to Wind River as the Accounting Clerk this year. Welcome back Judy!
She earned an associates in Career Accounting from CWC and has worked in Fremont County schools for 18 years.
She enjoys crocheting, camping and fishing. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: All of them
Favorite Movie: Last of the Dogmen
Favorite TV Show: Devious Minds
Favorite Food: Tacos
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Vacation Spot: The Mountains
Favorite Band/Song: All Music

DAVE SHARON
Dave is from North Bend, Washington and is one of our new custodians at Wind River Schools.
He has three grown sons a grandson and a granddaughter. He enjoys playing guitar, fly fishing, kayaking, hunting and automotive restorations. A few of his favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: The Holy Bible
Favorite Movie: Lonesome Dove
Favorite Food: Mexican
Favorite Color: All shades of Blue and Black
Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere off the beaten path ... Mountains, Lakes, Streams
Favorite Band/Song: ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd & Third Day

NADINE STOTTS
Nadine is from Farson and is the new teacher at Crowheart Elementary.
She earned a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Valley City State University in North Dakota. Although she has been a substitute teacher for many years this is her first job as a teacher.
She is married with four children and three granddaughters. Three of her children are married and the fourth just started college in Rock Springs.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, crochet, needlework, gardening, horseback riding, hunting, camping, and spending time with family. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: Louis L'Amour
Favorite Sport/Team to Watch: Green Bay Packers
Favorite TV Show: MASH
Favorite Food: Spaghetti and Meatballs
Favorite Color: Blue/Green
Favorite Vacation Spot: Alaska

MICKAYLA WALKER
Mickayla is from Halfway, Oregon and moved to Pavillion with her family in October. She is a paraprofessional at Wind River Elementary School.
She and her husband have five children. She enjoys canning food, baking, quilting, sewing and emboidery work. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: Maude by Donna Foley Mabry
Favorite Movie: John Wayne's McClintock
Favorite Food: Pork Chops or Cow Tongue
Favorite Color: Blue and Grey
Favorite Vacation Spot: Camping
Favorite Band/Song: Dinosaur by Hank Williams, Jr.

PAIGE WALKER
Paige grew up in Gillette and is the new Social Studies teacher at Wind River High School.
She earned her secondary social studies education degree from the University of Wyoming. She is the youngest of three and loves being an aunt to her two nieces and nephews. She also enjoys playing with her dog, reading and hiking. A few of her favorite things are:
Favorite Book/Author: Night by Ellie Wiesel
Favorite Movie: Harry Potter
Favorite TV Show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Favorite Food: Tacos
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Vacation Spot: Jamaica
Favorite Band/Song: Zach Bryan